1st-time All-Stars Arcia, Murphy join Acu?a as starters in Seattle

ATLANTA -- Three months after having to battle for a starting spot during Spring Training, Orlando Arcia will join Braves teammates Ronald Acu?a Jr. and Sean Murphy in the National League’s starting lineup during this year’s All-Star Game in Seattle on July 11.

Arcia and Murphy were both elected starters when results of Phase 2 of this year’s Scotts All-Star ballot were announced early Thursday evening. These first-time All-Stars can learn what to expect from Acu?a, who gained his fourth All-Star selection when he received more votes than any other MLB player in Phase 1 of the balloting process.

This will be the first time the Braves have had three players in the starting lineup since 1998, when Greg Maddux, Walt Weiss and Chipper Jones started for the NL team at Coors Field.

The NL’s pitching staff and reserves will be announced Sunday on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. ET. First baseman Matt Olson and second baseman Ozzie Albies join starting pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder as the top candidates to add more Braves to the NL roster. Olson, Albies, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II all advanced to Phase 2 of the balloting process but ultimately fell short of starting spots.

Arcia received 69 percent of votes as he was pitted against the Mets’ Francisco Lindor to determine who would be the NL’s starting shortstop. That percentage was higher than any other player during Phase 2.

This has been an incredible year for Arcia, who went to Spring Training having to compete with two Minor Leaguers, Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake for the starting job. He won that battle and has since enjoyed the finest season of his career. The 28-year-old veteran has hit .303 with a .794 OPS and provided splendid defense.

Arcia will be the first Brave to start at shortstop in an All-Star Game since Edgar Renteria in 2006. Weiss, who started at that position in 1998, has been Atlanta’s bench coach since 2017.

Murphy received 61 percent of the vote, going up against the Dodgers’ Will Smith to determine who would serve as the NL’s starting catcher.

Murphy has certainly quieted those Braves fans who wondered why Atlanta acquired him at the expense of William Contreras via a three-way trade with the A’s and Brewers in December. The veteran catcher has hit .289 with 13 homers and a .926 OPS. He ranks third among NL players (min. 200 plate appearances) with a 3.1 fWAR (Fangraphs’ Wins Above Replacement Model).

Here are the results for the other Braves who were involved in Phase 2:

First base: Freddie Freeman: 60 percent; Olson: 40 percent. The two most recent Braves first basemen could both be on this year’s NL team.

Second base: Luis Arraez: 53 percent; Albies: 47 percent. Arraez’s bid to hit .400 has been one of the first half’s top storylines.

Third base: Nolan Arenado: 57 percent; Riley: 43 percent. There’s always a chance Riley could garner a late selection for a second straight year.

Outfield: Mookie Betts: 34 percent, Corbin Carroll: 30 percent, Harris: 19 percent, Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: 16 percent. With Acu?a already guaranteed to start, just two of the four outfield finalists gained a starting spot.